The Downfall of Chicago Bulls: What Led to the demise of Michael Jordan and his team
In ’92, the frenzy around the NBA was spread in 80 countries. And now the NBA is watched and adored by its ardent fans in 215 countries. Anyone who understands this spreading of the NBA like a wildfire is cognizant about Michael Jordan and his Chicago Bulls playing an incredibly important part in it. One-time NBA powerhouse, Chicago Bulls are viewed by many observers as the greatest basketball team ever. The Chicago Bulls helped in the globalization of NBA basketball to a major extent. In the early ’90s, things were beginning to build as the talents like Michael Jordan and Pippen started to show their capabilities on the pitch and started their journey to become one of the bests which eventually led to a strong legacy of winners. They won six championships in ten years. Wins after wins, records were shattered. But what happened to the team filled with superstars, how did it endure a steady decline?
The only choice was to rebuild or endure a steady decline. Michael Jordan who had earlier retired for two years (92–94) due to the murder of his father had a private meeting with Jackson who couldn’t convince him to stay. “This was, you know, a young man that had gone through some heart-rending things. You’re denying a gift to society, but I understand. You know, I understand,” he said. Jordan claimed to have said that he no longer had the desire to play. After retiring from basketball, Jordan Joined a mini baseball league but due to a strike that halted the mini baseball league, he got back and started playing basketball again and led Bulls to various titles. The summer of 1998 brought a hasty end to the championship era. After eight years, coach Jackson — Who was unhappy with the management took an early flight back home. The team was aging; they knew they were likely to be broken. Scottie Pippen was traded; Donnie Rodman was released and Jordan retired.
The recent documentary released by ESPN, The Last Dance, while emphasizing the athlete’s influence also takes us to the murkiness of the dressing room and behind-the-scenes management. The players were unhappy and a lot of them had problems with the management which eventually led to the dismantling of the team. However, MJ also stated that Jackson and the players could have been persuaded to return by team ownership. “Would Phil have done it? Yes,” he said. Jordan still believed that at the age of 35, the team still could win titles. “It’s maddening,” he said.
Jackson did not return, so MJ didn’t return either and neither did the likes of Pippen and Steve Karr. They say all good things come to an end at some point,” says Dickey Simpkins, a reserve forward on the Bulls. Following the 1998 season, the team decided to move on and began to rebuild. Where any other basketball chairman would never take the luxury to completely tear down and focus on rebuilding one of the greatest teams in the history of the NBA, Krause welcomed the idea. The breaking up of the team was one of the most unfortunate things ever happened to the Chicago Bulls. The legacy still stands tall because no team can claim that they reached the heights and standards set by the Bulls.
